we need a defense secretary who understands and fully appreciates the danger of a nuclear iran and the importance of the strong u.s.-israel alliance. >> do you think chuck hagel doesn't understand the danger of a nuclear iran? >> well, i think it's much more complicated than that. i think there are legitimate reasons, and i think folks like senator cornyn have good reason to have questions about senator hagel's viewpoint when it comes to looking at the -- at the american foreign policy. >> does the president deserve to have the -- >> i firmly believe when you get to choose the cabinet that you want and there, of course, is the advice and consent of the senate, and that's an important part of the process. i think that's why these hearings are going to be quite illuminating. i think you will see some changes from senator hagel based on some of the past statements that he has made. he has had some policy prescriptions that haven't worked out right, and i think many of these senators are going to explore those, and as part of trying to find the right foreign policy platform for the country